Next Steps

Pre-Art Therapy

Pre-Art Therapy Program

The Pre-Art Therapy program prepares students for graduate programs in art therapy or art therapy and counseling. An art therapist uses the creative process of making art to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people of all ages. In this profession, practitioners integrate the fields of human development, visual art (painting, drawing, sculpting, etc.) and the creative process with models of counseling and psychotherapy.

An undergraduate can continue toward certification as an art therapist by attending a graduate program in art therapy. Some graduate programs in art therapy also prepare students to apply for licensing as a counselor. To receive certification from the Art Therapy Credentials Board, a student must complete a graduate art therapy program and complete supervised clinical experience. Art therapists can find employment in a variety of areas including senior centers, hospitals, mental health centers, special education programs, veteran services, and in penal institutions. Duties run the gamut from providing social interaction training to working with psychologists and psychiatrists.